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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider No solid proof but PNP probing Atong Ang link to illegal activities in Negros; Police major sacked

No solid proof but PNP probing Atong Ang link to illegal activities in Negros; Police major sacked

Published Apr 27, 2026 10:23 pm
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The police major who was tagged as protector of online sabong in the Visayas was sacked from his post and is now under restrictive custody amid the ongoing investigation into the extent of the network of the illegal gambling activity, an official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.
CIDG spokesperson Maj. Helen dela Cruz said the involved police official used to be CIDG provincial officer in one of the two provinces in Negros island.
“He was already relieved from his post. He was taken to the (CIDG) headquarters for investigation,” said dela Cruz.
It was Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla who exposed the involvement of the police official whom he identified as Police Major Edgar Tonico Jr. to the e-sabong operation in Talisay City in Negros Occidental.
CIDG operatives arrested 30 people and confiscated cockfighting paraphernalia during the operation at around 10:30 p.m. on April 22 in Barangay Concepcion.
The raided online sabong facility was allegedly connected to other illegal activities in the Negros Island Region that include production of illegal cigarettes.
On April 22, CIDG operatives also seized almost P800 million cigarettes and manufacturing paraphernalia in two warehouses in Bago City and Bacolod City where 10 Chinese were arrested.
No solid proof
Remulla said the police major and one of the two operators of illegal activities in Negros island are connected to Atong Ang at the peak of the operation of e-sabong from 2020 to 2022.
“They were known cohorts during the peak of e-sabong days. The police major who is the protector and a certain Don Robert work for Atong Ang,” said Remulla in a press briefing.
“But to say that Atong Ang was involved here, I cannot say with great conclusiveness that he’s involved,” Remulla emphasized.
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said allegations of involvement of Atong Ang is part of the investigation.
Tale of the missing fighting cocks
CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert AA Morico said the operation of online sabong in the Negros Occidental was connected to the rise of theft incidents involving fighting cocks in Talisay City and the town of Murcia.
But he said the victims chose to keep mum due to fear of retaliation from associates of the group.
“The stolen fighting cocks were purchased at alleged inflated prices and used in the illegal activities, while cheating schemes were allegedly employed through the use of dull gaffs on one cock and sharp gaffs on its opponent to manipulate fight outcomes,” said Morico.

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